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AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins

Despres, McDonald Selected to AHL Eastern Conference All-Star Team

January 4, 2012 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins News Release


WILKES-BARRE, Pa. - The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, in conjunction with the American Hockey League, announced today that right wing Colin McDonald and defenseman Simon Despres have been selected to the Eastern Conference All-Star Team at the 2012 AHL All-Star Classic, to be held Jan. 29-30 in Atlantic City, N.J.

McDonald earns his second consecutive selection to the All-Star Classic having posted eight goals and 20 assists in 32 games for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. The Wethersfield, CT native is the team's leader in assists (20) and points (28) and is current tied for third in the AHL with a +17 plus/minus rating. Last season, McDonald led the league with 42 goalswhile skating with the Oklahoma City Barons.

A 20-year old rookie from Laval, QC, Despres has already appeared in 13 games with the Pittsburgh Penguins this season, compiling a goal and three assists. Returned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on New Year's Day, Despres has recorded three goals - all game-winners - and four assists in 27 games for the Penguins. He was Pittsburgh's first-round pick (30th overall) in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.

From Jan. 5-23, fans will have the opportunity to vote for the starting lineups for the 2012 AHL All-Star Game by visiting theahl.com or facebook.com/theahl and completing the official Reebok AHL All-Star Fan Ballot. Voters will also be entered to win a grand prize of a team-signed authentic 2012 AHL All-Star jersey, and five more winners will each receive a pair of tickets to the 2012 AHL All-Star Skills Competition and All-Star Game, courtesy of Insurance Office of America.

Tickets for the 2012 AHL All-Star Classic - which include admission to both the 2012 AHL All-Star Skills Competition at 3 p.m. on Sunday, January 29, and the 2012 AHL All-Star Game at 7 p.m. on Monday, January 30 - are on sale now at the Boardwalk Hall box office, all Ticketmaster locations, by calling (800) 736-1420 or at www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets are also available for the Post-Skills Party (January 29, 5:30 p.m.) and the 2012 AHL Hall of Fame Induction & Awards Ceremony (January 30, 11 a.m.) at Caesars Atlantic City.

The 2012 AHL All-Star Classic will feature the top young talent in the American Hockey League competing in an internationally televised showcase from historic Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. Of the 562 players to take part in the AHL All-Star Classic since 1995, more than 93 percent have competed in the National Hockey League, including Patrice Bergeron, Dan Boyle, Daniel Briere, Ryan Callahan, Brian Campbell, Zdeno Chara, Jimmy Howard, Miikka Kiprusoff, Ryan Miller, Zach Parise, Pekka Rinne, Bobby Ryan, Martin St. Louis, Jason Spezza, Eric Staal, P.K. Subban and Tomas Vokoun.

The 2012 AHL All-Star Classic is presented by the Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority, Caesars Entertainment, the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority and the American Hockey League. For destination information about Atlantic City, please visit www.atlanticcitynj.com.

PENGUINS IN THE ALL-STAR GAME

2000 John Slaney

2001 Toby Petersen (S), John Slaney (S), Billy Tibbetts *, Andrew Ference, Greg Crozier

2002 Tom Kostopoulos, Shane Endicott*

2003 Ross Lupaschuk, Tomas Surovy, Milan Kraft*

2004 Matt Murley

2005 Michel Ouellet (S)

2006 Noah Welch, Dany Sabourin, Tomas Surovy*, Michel Ouellet*

2007 Jonathan Filewich, Noah Welch*

2008 Alex Goligoski, Jeff Taffe*

2009 Ben Lovejoy, Jeff Taffe, Chris Minard (S)

2010 Dustin Jeffrey (S)

2011 Brad Thiessen (S), Dustin Jeffrey

2012 Simon Despres, Colin McDonald

* did not play due to injury/call up

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